first pitch: 4:10 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4
matchup: Jake Peavy (2-0, 2.32 ERA) vs Aaron Harang (1-2, 3.96 ERA)
game preview: CBS
The bad news is, the Padres are coming off a 15-5 shellacking at the hands of the Cardinals. The good news is, the Friars still managed to take three of four in St. Louis, where they hadn’t won any games prior to this week since 2001. Even in the loss, it was basically an 11-run first that did them in. One bad inning in four games against what had been the best team in the NL to that point? I’ll take it.
Up next, the Cincinnati Reds, who are currently 11-19, 8 games behind the aforementioned Cardinals in the NL Central. The first game features Padres ace Peavy against San Diego product Harang. It also marks the return of Khalil Greene, who has been out with a broken finger since April 16.
AB BA OBP SLG
Peavy vs current Reds 49 .224 .309 .306
Harang vs current Padres 40 .300 .364 .375
Not much to go on here for either pitcher. Joe Randa has the lone homer against Peavy. As for Harang, historically he has been easier to hit as the game goes on. Three-year splits by inning (courtesy ESPN):
Inn AB BA OBP SLG AB/HR ISO 1-3 659 .266 .324 .403 36.6 .137 4-6 507 .304 .361 .546 19.5 .242
And by number of pitches (courtesy ESPN):
#Pit AB BA OBP SLG AB/HR ISO 1-15 150 .260 .343 .420 30.0 .160 16-30 190 .274 .333 .405 38.0 .131 31-45 220 .256 .297 .379 55.0 .123 46-60 203 .271 .320 .438 25.4 .167 61-75 191 .288 .350 .476 38.2 .188 76-90 163 .350 .406 .632 14.8 .282 91-105 92 .261 .324 .543 15.3 .282
The strategy would seem to be make him throw a lot of pitches early, then jump on him when he starts leaving them up in the zone the second and third times through the lineup. That’s actually not a bad approach against most pitchers. We’ll see how well the Padres can execute.
I’m in Louisiana, it’s a perfect time to eat.
I am in one of those moods where it seems like they can’t do anything right while I am watching. Here’s hoping that when I get back in an hour or so it will be 6-5 Pads.
It’s always a good time to eat in Louisiana.
.545
That’s the Reds’ BABIP tonight.
It’s .636 if you count the error as a hit, which you might as well.
Padres: .143
The Reds announcers said Nevin is one of the best leaders in baseball. What are they smoking?
Nevin is one of the leaders of the Padres, but he is no Loretta or Hoffman.
Usually, if you are the No. 3 leader on your team and have often been the subject of trade rumors because you are a red-ass, then you are not one of the best leaders in baseball.
I agree. I was just pointing out that their statement (although wrong) had some basis in reality.
I’ve never thought of him as a leader, even a little bit, but OK.
.500 BABIP against Jake after the fourth.
Back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth inning. Still down by four runs.
What was Greene doing swinging at that? ack
I think I’d be inclined to remove Jake for a Pinch-Hitter at this point…
I guess Bochy isn’t, though.
Back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning result in one stinking run. That’s just awful.
True to form, the first double came on pitch #51. Time to pounce on him.
That was some pretty weak-ass pouncing, Geoff.
Heh, guess we know who *isn’t* watching the game.
Geoff – huh?
The strike zone tonight has been inconsistent.
What the hell were Giles and Nevin doing?
Richard: When I wrote my “pounce” comment, ESPN.com had just showed the doubles, hence my excitement. Didn’t see your comment till after I’d posted mine.
Oh, okay.
The team has looked bad tonight. Getting in bad counts. Swinging at bad pitches. Putting bad swings on hit-me pitches. The defense has been poor. Jake wasn’t hitting his spots. Ugly.
I see that it is not 6-5. Here’s hoping Ramon can hit a 3 run bomb.
Graves doesn’t exactly scare me. But then again the Pads have not swung the bats well tonight.
They’re at least making a game of it in the 9th.
Pitching substitution, Pinch runner & pinch hitter all at the same time. Fun, fun.
Clutch!! Nice going Bob!
That’s what I’m talking about!
I turned off the game after the 8th to watch season one of 24 on DVD. My watching is apparently bad luck….
Fick, great running.
Reds can’t even record an out when we attempt a sacrifice.
Was it a Fielder’s Choice that Sean reached on?
Yes, they went to third to try and get Fick, so that’s a fielder’s choice.
Intentionally walking Mr. I try to get myself out Roberts to get to Loretta? They don’t want to win.
They walked Roberts to get to Loretta. I like that for us.
I can’t see the game and GameDay just says Sean laid down a sacrifice and was not out.
Guess not. Damned Loretta.
Room service double-play ball. Our bullpen is plenty better than theirs though.
I see Falkenborg had a nice outing. I was gone for awhile.
They should put in Hammond.
This is gut-wrenching.
Giles finally caught a tough one. Heart must beat slower.
We needed that catch from Giles earlier, but we’ll take that one.
Now that they have come back, they need to win this one. I hate to ask a rookie and May to win the next two, no matter who the Reds throw out there on the mound.
Guess I was wrong. Still, that made me nervous as hell.
Klesko was first-pitch swinging. Why?
Yeah this game would be over if Giles had caught that one in the first.
Nevin is battling.